Suspension arrangement for a seat and method of producing an elongate suspension member for a suspension arrangement for a seat

Abstract

The present invention relates to a suspension arrangement (20, 120) for a seat comprising a plurality of elongate suspension members (21, 22, 121, 122) of a glass fibre filled plastic. Each elongate suspension member (21, 22, 121, 122) of the plurality of elongate suspension members includes in a longitudinal direction thereof a first end (23, 25, 123, 125) and an opposing second end (24, 26, 124, 126). The elongate suspension member (21, 22, 121, 122) has a meandered shape in the longitudinal direction. The present invention relates furthermore to a method for producing an elongate suspension member (21, 22, 121, 122).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A suspension arrangement for a seat comprising a plurality of elongate suspension members of a glass fiber filled plastic,
 wherein each elongate suspension member of the plurality of elongate suspension members includes in a longitudinal direction thereof a first end and an opposing second end, 
 wherein the elongate suspension member has a meandered shape in the longitudinal direction, 
 wherein a first elongate suspension member of the plurality of elongate suspension members has the same meandered shape as a second elongate suspension member of the plurality of elongate suspension members, 
 wherein the first and second elongate suspension members are arranged spaced apart in a parallel manner in a plane extending in the longitudinal direction and in a direction of an amplitude of the meandered shape, and 
 further including a connecting element for connecting the first elongate suspension member and the second elongate suspension member, wherein the first elongate suspension member and the second elongate suspension member are connected to each other at an inflection point of the meandered shape. 
 
     
     
       2. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the meandered shape comprises a plurality of curved sections with alternating curvature directions. 
     
     
       3. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the meandered shape comprises a sinusoidal section. 
     
     
       4. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of the meandered shape is at least 1/30 of a distance from the first end to the second end in a relaxed state of the elongate suspension member. 
     
     
       5. The suspension arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein an amplitude of the meandered shape is at least 1/20 of a distance from the first end to the second end in a relaxed state of the elongate suspension member. 
     
     
       6. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of the meandered shape varies along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       7. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein, in the longitudinal direction of the elongate suspension member, an amplitude at a central section is larger than an amplitude at a section between the central section and the first end or an amplitude at a section between the central section and the second end. 
     
     
       8. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate suspension members are coupled to each other at their first ends and extend in different radial directions to be connected to a frame of the seat with their second ends. 
     
     
       9. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of an elongate suspension member of the plurality of elongate suspension members varies depending on a position along the elongate suspension member from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
       10. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic comprises polyphthalamide. 
     
     
       11. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic comprises medium viscosity partly aromatic polyamide. 
     
     
       12. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the glass fiber filled plastic comprises plastic with a glass fiber content in a range of 50% to 60%. 
     
     
       13. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the glass fiber filled plastic comprises polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
       14. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the glass fiber filled plastic comprises an amount of polytetrafluoroethylene in a range of 0,5 to 5% by weight. 
     
     
       15. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension arrangement is configured as a suspension arrangement for a seat pan. 
     
     
       16. The suspension arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the meandered shape of the elongate suspension member is arranged in a first plane, wherein end sections between the meandered shape and the first and second ends are arranged in a second plane, which is perpendicular to the first plane. 
     
     
       17. A seat comprising:
 a frame; and 
 a suspension arrangement comprising a plurality of elongate suspension members of a glass fiber filled plastic, 
 wherein each elongate suspension member of the plurality of elongate suspension members includes in a longitudinal direction thereof a first end and an opposing second end, 
 wherein the elongate suspension member has a meandered shape in the longitudinal direction, 
 wherein at least one of the first and second ends of at least one elongate suspension member of the plurality of elongate suspension members is attached to the frame, 
 wherein a first elongate suspension member of the plurality of elongate suspension members has the same meandered shape as a second elongate suspension member of the plurality of elongate suspension members, 
 wherein the first and second elongate suspension members are arranged spaced apart in a parallel manner in a plane extending in the longitudinal direction and in a direction of an amplitude of the meandered shape, and 
 further including a connecting element for connecting the first elongate suspension member and the second elongate suspension member, wherein the first elongate suspension member and the second elongate suspension member are connected to each other at an inflection point of the meandered shape. 
 
     
     
       18. The seat of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one elongate suspension member is attached to the frame in a state in which the at least one elongate suspension member is pre-stressed in its longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       19. The seat of  claim 17 , wherein the frame comprises a rod, wherein the at least one of the first and second ends is attached to the rod by at least partially enclosing a section of the rod. 
     
     
       20. The seat of  claim 17 , wherein the suspension arrangement comprises at least 15 elongate suspension members. 
     
     
       21. The seat of  claim 17 , wherein the seat comprises a foam support arranged on the plurality of elongate suspension members. 
     
     
       22. The seat of  claim 17 , wherein the frame and the plurality of elongate suspension members are integrally formed. 
     
     
       23. The seat of  claim 17 , wherein the seat comprises a seat pan having the frame. 
     
     
       24. A method for producing an elongate suspension member for a suspension arrangement for a seat, wherein the elongate suspension member includes in a longitudinal direction a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the elongate suspension member has a meandered shape in the longitudinal direction, the method comprising:
 mixing gas into a glass fiber filled plastic; and 
 injecting the mixture of gas and glass fiber filled plastic into a mould having a moulding cavity with the meandered shape. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , further comprising tempering the glass fiber filled plastic. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 24 , further comprising tempering the glass fiber filled plastic at a temperature of at least 130° C. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 24 , further comprising tempering the glass fiber filled plastic for at least 20 minutes. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the method is for producing the elongate suspension member of the suspension arrangement of  claim 1 .